Matt chats with Mike Chu, the academic director of Awakening School of Theology, about an upcoming conference they are hosting on 1 Enoch. Website: https://awkng.com +++ Support the The Bible (Unmuted) via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted Read Matt's blog: matthewhalsted.substack.com Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!...
Jul 01, 2025•29 min
Part 2 of 2 James-Michael Smith runs an organization called DiscipleDojo, which is a multi-faceted ministry that serves refugees, publishes interviews with scholars and authors, and offers resources on biblical studies and theology. In this two-part discussion, JM and Matt cover a lot of territory: from Wesleyanism to the so-called "young, restless, reformed movement" to dispensationalism to mideast politics. Check out JM Smith's website and YouTube Channel: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Di...
Jun 24, 2025•47 min
Part 1 of 2 James-Michael Smith runs an organization called DiscipleDojo, which is a multi-faceted ministry that serves refugees, publishes interviews with scholars and authors, and offers resources on biblical studies and theology. In this two-part discussion, JM and Matt cover a lot of territory: from Wesleyanism to the so-called "young, restless, reformed movement" to dispensationalism to mideast politics. Check out JM Smith's website and YouTube Channel: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dis...
Jun 17, 2025•55 min
In this episode, Matt chats with Dr. John ("Jack") Beck. Jack has spent much of his career helping people to see the importance of biblical geography and how becoming familiar with it can help readers better understand the depths of meaning of the biblical text. What is significant, for example, about the physical location of Jesus' baptism at the Jordan River? Where did Jesus give his famous "Sermon on the Mount" and why might that place be important? And what's up with all the mountains in the...
Jun 10, 2025•1 hr 1 min
In this section, Revelation offers an interpretation of the beast's 7 heads and 10 horns. These symbols prove to be highly important and easily discernible -- but they are only discernible when modern readers interpret them in light of an important text in Daniel and when it is remembered how apocalyptic imagery works in the first place (such as in the case of the number "7"). Modern readers even have to know a thing or two about Rome's geography! +++ Support the podcast via Patreon: ...
Jun 03, 2025•45 min
Here's a question we need to ask: How do the endings (plural!) of the Old Testament direct and guide our reading of the New Testament, specifically the Gospels? Listen to find out... +++ Support the podcast via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted Read Matt's blog: matthewhalsted.substack.com Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!...
May 27, 2025•10 min
Who is the great prostitute in Revelation 17? And why does she have the name "Babylon" written across her forehead? And, moreover, what is the significance of John seeing her in the "wilderness"? A variety of Old Testament passages and stories -- and even non-canonical texts such as the Sibylline Oracles -- can help modern readers understand the important symbolism of this passage. +++ Support the podcast via Patreon: https://www.patr...
May 20, 2025•55 min
Matt continues his discussion through Revelation 16 -- the seven bowls of judgment. This passage continues to allude to key sections of the Exodus narrative, specifically the plagues. Matt also draws attention to the way the bowls relate to the seals and trumpets, noting especially the way Revelation depicts a cosmos that is deteriorating. He also chats about various views regarding the "Armageddon" passage in v. 16. To what does this refer? Is it a physical location, or is something else going ...
May 13, 2025•58 min
In Revelation 16, readers encounter a third cycle of seven judgments -- the "seven bowls." In this episode, Matt looks at the first three bowls and observes similarities with the previous cycle of judgments (the seven trumpets). He also points out the ways in which the bowls are conceptually linked back to the the Egyptian plagues of Exodus and why its important to make this connection for understanding Revelation's core message about a worldwide exodus. Matt also compares texts from the Wisdom ...
May 06, 2025•56 min
When Jesus was on the cross, he cried out: "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" Does this mean that God actually forsook Jesus? Many people think so. But in this episode, Matt offers some reasons why that's not the case at all. +++ Support the podcast via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted Read Matt's blog: matthewhalsted.substack.com Don't forget to subscribe t...
Apr 29, 2025•8 min
Why does Revelation depict sevenfold judgment cycles -- e.g., seven seals, seven trumpets, seven bowls? How might the Old Testament help us to understand the logic of Revelation's structure in this regard? And what other biblical prophet depicted divine judgment along the lines of a sevenfold schema? +++ Support the The Bible (Unmuted) via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted Read Matt's blog: matthewhalsted.substack.com Don't forget to subscribe to...
Apr 22, 2025•35 min
Matt chats with Andrew Perrin (PhD, McMaster University) about all things Dead Sea Scrolls. Andrew has written a new book on the subject called Lost Words and Forgotten Worlds: Rediscovering the Dead Sea Scrolls . On this episode, Andrew talks about what the Scrolls are, what they contain, and why they are important. If you are serious student of the Bible, then you will find this conversation relevant and informative. Dr. Andrew Perrin's website: https://andrewperrin.com/ Order his new book: Lo...
Apr 15, 2025•56 min
Matt takes listener questions, which opens up quite a bit of discussion on some fun (and important) topics: Should the church utilize non-canonical texts (such as the Dead Scrolls, Pseudepigrapha, etc) for teaching the Bible? How can the Dead Sea Scrolls be useful for understanding the New Testament? Is the academic study of the Bible threatening to faith and personal devotion? How do the Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls relate to one another? +++ Support the The Bible (Unmuted) via Patreon: ...
Apr 08, 2025•43 min
Aimee Byrd joins us once again to chat about her latest book, Saving Face: Finding My Self, God, and One Another Outside a Defaced Church . She offers careful reflections on navigating disillusionment and pain that, sadly, sometimes comes through the church. Aimee's relentless commitment to pursuing the saving face of Jesus Christ is absolutely contagious, and she offers a lot of food for thought for those who want to think carefully about all things church, spiritual trauma, and pursing Jesus a...
Apr 01, 2025•47 min
Part 2 of 2 Matt chats with Amber Dillon (PhD, Ridley College), who teaches at Eternity Bible College and Denver Seminary. In her doctoral work (supervised by New Testament scholar Michael Bird), she researched the literary portrait of John the Baptist, as depicted in the Gospel of John. In the previous episode (part 1/Ep #110), we kicked things off by discussing what goes into writing a dissertation and the necessity of being able to receive constructive criticism during the writing process. We...
Mar 25, 2025•42 min
Part 1 of 2 Matt chats with Amber Dillon (PhD, Ridley College), who teaches at Eternity Bible College and Denver Seminary. In her doctoral work (supervised by New Testament scholar Michael Bird), she researched the literary portrait of John the Baptist, as depicted in the Gospel of John. In this episode (part 1), we kick things off by discussing what goes into writing a dissertation and the necessity of being able to receive constructive criticism during the writing process. We also chat about h...
Mar 18, 2025•44 min
Is it ever okay to lie? That's the question Matt takes up on the show today. Interestingly, this question is not merely an ethical one but also has bearing upon larger issues related to theology, anthropology, and hermeneutics. Resources mentioned on the show: (1) David Bentley Hart, You Are Gods: On Nature and Supernature // see chapter 4: Pia Fraus : Our Words and God's Truth (2) Craig G. Bartholomew, Introducing Biblical Hermeneutics: A Comprehensive Framework for Hearing God in Scripture +++...
Mar 11, 2025•15 min
Revelation 15 is a remarkable passage, for it offers a vision of a christologized exodus. This is a powerful illustration of the ways in which the New Testament employs Old Testament material and bridges the story of Jesus of Nazareth to the story of Israel -- especially the Exodus story. There are a number of insights this conceptual bridging affords -- not least in how it illuminates the way the Gospel frees people from evil empires and the spiritual realities that empower them. +++ Support th...
Mar 04, 2025•47 min
This passage centers around the proclamations and actions of several angels, who play a decisive role in the eschaton. Readers are also confronted with further images of divine judgment. How should one interpret these judgment texts, specifically, the gruesome picture given in v. 20? +++ Support the podcast via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted Read Matt's blog: matthewhalsted.substack.com...
Feb 25, 2025•39 min
In Revelation 14:1-5, we meet once again 144,000 people who are marked on their foreheads. This mirrors the content of Revelation 7, furthering the narrative of the text as a whole. But new material is introduced in the process. Matt analyzes this new content, revealing important allusions that tie Rev. 14 back to Old Testament passages found in Deuteronomy, Zephaniah, and Isaiah. +++ Support the podcast via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/...
Feb 18, 2025•36 min
Matt answers a listener's question about evangelism, specifically: Should Christians first preach about sin before talking about grace? The answer to that question requires a story... +++ Support the podcast via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted Read Matt's blog: matthewhalsted.substack.com Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!...
Feb 11, 2025•20 min
Matt chats with Paul Wilson, a PhD candidate at the University of Edinburgh. His research focuses on migration in the book of Acts. This is a topic that not only garners attention among biblical scholars but also among those engaged in modern political discourse. It's a hot topic, to say the least. In this conversation, Paul guides listeners to think through the subject of migration and, specifically, forced migration, in a way that leans into the insights of the New Testament and Christ's visio...
Feb 04, 2025•1 hr 1 min
Revelation 13 describes two beasts: the first rises from the sea, the second from the earth. In this episode, Matt chats about this mysterious second beast. Who, or what, does the land beast symbolize? How would John's first readers have understand this passage? And, moreover, how should modern readers interpret it? Finally, what about the actual mark of the beast? Are there relevant Old Testament passages that serve as the conceptual background for this concept? And what does it have to do with...
Jan 28, 2025•51 min
Who (or what) is the beast from the sea in Revelation 13? What clues from the text can we observe that will help us answer this question? Moreover, what insights can we glean from events, persons, and institutions that existed in the first-century Roman world (specifically in the region in and around Asia Minor) that would help us read Revelation 13 accurately and coherently? Listen to find out! +++ Support the podcast via Patreon: https://www.p...
Jan 21, 2025•54 min
Revelation 13 is a well-known chapter, containing as it does the infamous "mark of the beast" text. This particular passage (and the chapter as a whole) is often the subject of much discussion -- and speculation. In this episode, Matt offers "big picture ideas" that provide an introduction to Revelation 13, addressing questions, such as: What is important about the symbolism of the two beasts? How does the Old Testament help us understand that symbolism? What details does John provide about the ...
Jan 14, 2025•46 min
Most would be surprised to learn that the first Christmas 2,000 years ago had a lot to do with politics—indeed, it radically challenged the politics of the day. But in what way? And how can this help us navigate political life in the modern world? Matt addresses these questions, as well as discusses other theological truths and devotional implications of Christmas that are important to consider as we celebrate the Messiah’s birth this season. + + + Support the podcast via Patreon: ...
Dec 24, 2024•33 min
Revelation 12 is full of Old Testament allusions -- what are they, and how do they help us understand the meaning of John's vision? This chapter also contains an abbreviated re-telling of the life and ministry of Jesus. It's a re-telling that features a woman about to give birth to a baby -- a child that a certain dragon seeks to devour. Who is this woman (Mary? Israel?), and how would have the first readers of Revelation understood John's way of telling the story -- those, that is to say, who w...
Dec 17, 2024•54 min
Revelation 11 kicks off by talking about a "temple." Is this a reference to a physical temple? Or is there another way to understand it? How might considering other passages in the New Testament help us in this regard? And who are the two witnesses? Is John saying that, at some point in the future, there will be two individuals who show up (Moses? Elijah? Others?) to prophesy? Many modern prophecy teachers are confident this is the case. In this episode, though, Matt argues that, perhaps, the tr...
Dec 10, 2024•53 min
On the podcast, Matt has been going verse-by-verse through Revelation. The core narrative found in this last book of the New Testament is how the weak (the slain Lamb and his people) are victorious over the strong (the dragon and his people). We see this same narrative elsewhere in the New Testament, namely, in the Gospels. There Jesus elevates the small, the weak, the marginalized; the heroes of his stories are often cultural outcasts. In this vein, how does Jesus' teaching on faith in Luke 17 ...
Dec 03, 2024•34 min
This episode is brought to you from sunny San Diego, where the 2024 annual IBR/SBL/AAR conference was hosted. Matt offers thoughts on the value of academic conferences, not least with respect to the Bible. In short, deep reflection happens best in community, where the back-and-forthness of dialogue can take place and where encouragement and critique can blossom. Biblical hermeneutics, after all, is a dialogical endeavor, one that simply cannot happen in the silo of individualism. In this vein, M...
Nov 26, 2024•22 min
